PART 1 (pages 10-14)

Since earliest times, men and women like those of the kingdom of Nimrod described in Genesis,
have tried to adapt their surroundings to their needs clearing forests, growing crops, making
weapons and tools.

Building a shelter against sun, wind or rain is one of the most fundamental of human needs,
essential to our physical and social life.

But it is also an act which goes beyond functional necessity: the response to climate and
weather, the finding and shaping of building materials, are a creative partnership with the
natural world through which man develops his intellect and skills.

They become an act of self-creation.

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Architecture is nowadays usually defined as the art and science of planning, designing and
constructing structures and their surroundings applying the fundamental principles of
aesthetics, functionality, good engineering etc.

Its definition encompasses the designed environment including buildings, urban spaces and
landscape.

It requires a fusion of interconnected and interrelated areas.

When one area is affected, all others are likewise affected.

It takes on different forms, depending on its physical, historical and cultural environment.

The purpose of architecture is to produce and aesthetically pleasing structure within functional
restraints.

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Architectural theory goes back to Vitruvius who wrote that architecture is primarily based on
order arrangement, symmetry and harmony on proportion.

Wren spoke of 'Beauty, Firmness and Convenience' in architecture.

Architecture might be described as the art and science of designing a building having qualities of
beauty, geometry, emotional and spiritual power, intellectual content and complexity, soundness
of construction, convenient planning, many virtues of different kinds, durable and pleasing
materials, agreeable coloring and decorations, serenity and dynamism, good proportions and
acceptable scale

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The history of Architecture is the history of civilization written on stone.

Every nation has architecture of its own, just as distinct as its language.
Each succeeding century has a very distinct character of its own, but modified by the different
countries and provinces to which the buildings belong; it is therefore necessary to know
something of the history of the country before we can properly understand its architecture.

The historical evolution of architecture is closely linked with the evolution of the mankind, its
culture and technological innovations.

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Architecture can be considered both and art and a science.

Its scientific component lies in good engineering aiming to build structures that are well
planned, firm, and functional.

Its artistic component is rooted in its mission to design structures that are aesthetically pleasing.

However, it is ultimately evaluated by its users.

An architectural work is judged only within the human context since it is a human activity aimed
at producing habitable structures used by living human beings.

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